CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - A legislative committee tabled a bill that would have provided $10 million to widen some of the state's highways, saying the money wasn't enough and that other efforts were under way to secure more funding.

Rep. Dave Edwards, R-Douglas and co-chairman of the Joint Transportation, Highways and Military Affairs Interim Committee, said the 14-0 vote tabling the bill was "absolutely not" a vote against widening highways.

Instead, Edwards said, lawmakers wanted to give the Joint Revenue Interim Committee and the Wyoming Department of Transportation more time to develop a formula that would commit a portion of the state's mineral severance tax revenue to highway projects.

Advocates for widening the state's highways say it would improve safety and make many of the state's communities more accessible, helping those communities attract new residents, businesses and tourists. The top-priority projects include U.S. Highway 287 from Laramie to the Colorado border, Wyoming Highway 59 from Douglas to Gillette and Wyoming Highway 220 from Muddy Gap to Casper.

Rep. Von Flatern, R-Gillette, said the $10 million contained in the bill would be just a drop in the bucket compared with the estimated $1.5 billion required to widen those and other highways.

Del McOmie, WyDOT's chief engineer, said the department hoped to complete those projects within 20 years, which would cost about $75 million per year.

In other action, the committee approved bills that would:

-allow the Wyoming Highway Patrol to hire 20 additional troopers. At least one study has shown the patrol is 100 or more troopers short of its optimal staffing level.

-prohibit insurance companies from excluding medical benefits when accidents involve drugs or alcohol. First Lady Nancy Freudenthal said the bill would encourage medical providers to help patients confront drug and alcohol problems, perhaps preventing accidents.

-authorize a specialty license plate to raise money for the University of Wyoming Alumni Association.

-authorize a pilot project for law enforcement to use an online service to verify driver and vehicle insurance.

-allow the Wyoming Department of Education to oversee driver's education programs.

Information from: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, http://www.wyomingnews.com